Why do you think Alualu is one of the worst? Is it because the NFL Network told you he was a "reach"?

He was considered a reach by pretty much everyone. I like him and thought he would have turned into a great pick if he was picked in the second round but the expectations are on him to perform like a top ten pick which most likely wont happen. People expect too much out of interior defensive linemen. People are upset with Sopoaga because he didn't do anything last year... guess what, he isn't supposed to do much except hold his ground which he did a pretty decent job of. Because he didn't have ten sacks, he is a terrible defensive end in the eyes of fans who really don't know much about football other than tackles, interceptions, and sacks. Was he great? No, but he definately wasn't bad. Alualu will not put up a bunch of tackles or sacks and fans will be calling him a bust even if he turns into a good player.

Good point on Soap, in 3-4 D, that is the DLinmens jobs, are to hold the fort and let the LBs make the plays. I dont remember anyone griping about Soaps play. Because we were one of the best run stopping D's in the league.

A 4-3 DT job is to wreak havoc, and that is what JVille will be running, I think the kid from Cal is gonna have a tough time for the next couple of years.

I think Alualu is going to do bad in Jax defensive scheme. I don't think he's a bad football player, but the specific overall pick he was picked in, along with being somewhat undersized for the Jags scheme now that Henderson is gone, makes me conclude that he won't be a productive football player.

It's true, the Jags should have traded down, accumulated picks and still draft Alualu late in the 1st round. However, it doesn't mean that Alualu is one of the worst players/picks in the draft.

You guys can speculate and pretend to know what you're talking about, but no one on the planet can foresee if any of the players drafted are going to pan out or not.

Alualu has a non-stop motor, unlike Sopoaga. Alualu's a prototypical 4-3 DT and this years draft lacked top-end 4-3 DT's (after Suh and McCoy of course). Odrick is more of a 3-4 DE, Dan Williams' motor runs hot and cold, and Cody's a 3-4 DT.

How about this busty scenario. A team picking a safety in the 2nd round who is a physical specimen but has poor pass coverage skills.

Brian Price >>>>>>>> Alualu.

Tampa is gonna have a tremendously talented DL in the next couple of years.

Originally posted by ninerlifer:Bradford is in a WAAAAYYYYYY better situation than what Smith had his rookie year

Bradford has Jason Smith AND the kid that the Rams picked in the top of the Second Round from Indiana. Thats 2 Bookend Tackles to protect Bradford's growing pains (although JSmith is still unproven because of injuries, and the new OT is a question mark) they are way better than what we had protecting Smith that is for damn sure. And Bradford has Stephen Freaking Jackson. ASmith had Kevan Barlow. I give the Rams 3 years to challenge for the division (hell even 2, if their last two drafts turn it on).

The Ram's o-line is projection, and may look good on paper, but is completely unproven. Alex Smith's rookie year o-line was horrific in retrospect, but lets examine how it was perceived in the offseason leading to the season.

LT- Jonas Jennings had just signed a huge contract and expectations where through the roof. Even though he had a history of injuries, noone expected him to accumulate 6 healthy games in a span of 4 years. Easily more to get excited about here than Roger Saffold (the 2nd round pick you are referring to).

LG - David Baas was just picked up in the 2nd round, and once again the expectations were through the roof. He was a big, freakishly strong, and somewhat versatile interior lineman who had a very successful college career. Any time a guard is the 33rd pick in the draft, the expectation is for him to be a 10 year starter, and a potential pro bowler. Same draft spot as Saffold, and arguably even higher expecations

C - Jeremy Newberry is a pro bowler, who was expected to come back healthy from injury. In retrospect we know that he never made a legitimate comeback, but at the time our expectation at C was a pro bowler.

RG - Justin Smiley is was yet another 2nd round OG, who had an even more impressive college career than Baas. He was a 2nd year player, and was by all means expected to be a very good starter at OG. (See Baas, David for expectations from 2nd round OGs).

RT - Kwame Harris also got fans excited. Even though the 1st round draft pick didn't have a great rookie season, the thought of him being a 2nd year player, and moving to his more natural RT spot was very inspiring. Very similar to Jason Smith actually--a 1st round pick who hadn't done anything in his 1st year, and was now facing high expectations in his 2nd year due to potential. Granted he wasn't the 2nd overall pick, but regardless, the situation is very similar.

At WR there isn't a starting caliber player between either of these teams. Actually, that's slightly untrue. Bradford has Avery (who is OK at best at this point of his career), and Smith had Eric Johnson, who actually had a good season the year before. Neither one has/had a receiving unit to write home about.

The one advantage Bradford has is Steven Jackson, but if you remember, at the start of '05, we were all ecstatic about Barlow. It wasn't until half way through the season that we realized he's trash.

So even though you can write up how good of a situation Bradford has on paper right now, the truth is, this was also the case for Smith in '05. The main difference--Bradford is a much better prospect than Smith ever was.

Wow! Great job on the comparison and breaking it down by position. I'd have to agree w/ everything said, no argument.

Originally posted by ninerlifer:Bradford is in a WAAAAYYYYYY better situation than what Smith had his rookie year

Bradford has Jason Smith AND the kid that the Rams picked in the top of the Second Round from Indiana. Thats 2 Bookend Tackles to protect Bradford's growing pains (although JSmith is still unproven because of injuries, and the new OT is a question mark) they are way better than what we had protecting Smith that is for damn sure. And Bradford has Stephen Freaking Jackson. ASmith had Kevan Barlow. I give the Rams 3 years to challenge for the division (hell even 2, if their last two drafts turn it on).

The Ram's o-line is projection, and may look good on paper, but is completely unproven. Alex Smith's rookie year o-line was horrific in retrospect, but lets examine how it was perceived in the offseason leading to the season.

LT- Jonas Jennings had just signed a huge contract and expectations where through the roof. Even though he had a history of injuries, noone expected him to accumulate 6 healthy games in a span of 4 years. Easily more to get excited about here than Roger Saffold (the 2nd round pick you are referring to).

LG - David Baas was just picked up in the 2nd round, and once again the expectations were through the roof. He was a big, freakishly strong, and somewhat versatile interior lineman who had a very successful college career. Any time a guard is the 33rd pick in the draft, the expectation is for him to be a 10 year starter, and a potential pro bowler. Same draft spot as Saffold, and arguably even higher expecations

C - Jeremy Newberry is a pro bowler, who was expected to come back healthy from injury. In retrospect we know that he never made a legitimate comeback, but at the time our expectation at C was a pro bowler.

RG - Justin Smiley is was yet another 2nd round OG, who had an even more impressive college career than Baas. He was a 2nd year player, and was by all means expected to be a very good starter at OG. (See Baas, David for expectations from 2nd round OGs).

RT - Kwame Harris also got fans excited. Even though the 1st round draft pick didn't have a great rookie season, the thought of him being a 2nd year player, and moving to his more natural RT spot was very inspiring. Very similar to Jason Smith actually--a 1st round pick who hadn't done anything in his 1st year, and was now facing high expectations in his 2nd year due to potential. Granted he wasn't the 2nd overall pick, but regardless, the situation is very similar.

At WR there isn't a starting caliber player between either of these teams. Actually, that's slightly untrue. Bradford has Avery (who is OK at best at this point of his career), and Smith had Eric Johnson, who actually had a good season the year before. Neither one has/had a receiving unit to write home about.

The one advantage Bradford has is Steven Jackson, but if you remember, at the start of '05, we were all ecstatic about Barlow. It wasn't until half way through the season that we realized he's trash.

So even though you can write up how good of a situation Bradford has on paper right now, the truth is, this was also the case for Smith in '05. The main difference--Bradford is a much better prospect than Smith ever was.

The situation worked out s**tty for Smith, if Bradford even get mediocre play from his line then he will be miles ahead of Smith. Also Steven Jackson is so much better than Barlow it's not even funny. Pity we didn't use Gore more that year.

Now if the Rams oline (Smith and Saffold in particular) are trash then yeah, i would say Bradford has a somewhat comparable situation even if the primary RB Bradford has is WAY better than what Smith had.

just b/c alualu was picked way out of seq from when he was "supposed" to be doesn't mean he'll be horrible. unless you actually know how to watch film like a scout. remember donte whitner? yea, he turned out to be a pretty good safety and everyone thought he was just a panic pick.

Why do you think Alualu is one of the worst? Is it because the NFL Network told you he was a "reach"?

He was considered a reach by pretty much everyone. I like him and thought he would have turned into a great pick if he was picked in the second round but the expectations are on him to perform like a top ten pick which most likely wont happen. People expect too much out of interior defensive linemen. People are upset with Sopoaga because he didn't do anything last year... guess what, he isn't supposed to do much except hold his ground which he did a pretty decent job of. Because he didn't have ten sacks, he is a terrible defensive end in the eyes of fans who really don't know much about football other than tackles, interceptions, and sacks. Was he great? No, but he definately wasn't bad. Alualu will not put up a bunch of tackles or sacks and fans will be calling him a bust even if he turns into a good player.

Good point on Soap, in 3-4 D, that is the DLinmens jobs, are to hold the fort and let the LBs make the plays. I dont remember anyone griping about Soaps play. Because we were one of the best run stopping D's in the league.

A 4-3 DT job is to wreak havoc, and that is what JVille will be running, I think the kid from Cal is gonna have a tough time for the next couple of years.

I think Alualu is going to do bad in Jax defensive scheme. I don't think he's a bad football player, but the specific overall pick he was picked in, along with being somewhat undersized for the Jags scheme now that Henderson is gone, makes me conclude that he won't be a productive football player.

It's true, the Jags should have traded down, accumulated picks and still draft Alualu late in the 1st round. However, it doesn't mean that Alualu is one of the worst players/picks in the draft.

You guys can speculate and pretend to know what you're talking about, but no one on the planet can foresee if any of the players drafted are going to pan out or not.

Alualu has a non-stop motor, unlike Sopoaga. Alualu's a prototypical 4-3 DT and this years draft lacked top-end 4-3 DT's (after Suh and McCoy of course). Odrick is more of a 3-4 DE, Dan Williams' motor runs hot and cold, and Cody's a 3-4 DT.

How about this busty scenario. A team picking a safety in the 2nd round who is a physical specimen but has poor pass coverage skills.

So you call everyone else guys who speculate and pretend to know what they're talking about, then you proceed to do the same thing with the opposite arguement...

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